Former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella will remain with the Duterte administration as an undersecretary despite being replaced by party-list lawmaker Harry Roque, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Friday.
In a radio interview, Andanar said Abella will stay with the administration on the discretion of President Rodrigo Duterte, who named Roque as his new spokesman last week.
“Ernie will stay with the administration. Wherever he’s placed by President Duterte, it’s the prerogative of the President. I’m sure hindi masi-zero si Ernie. He will have a place under the administration,” Andanar said.
Duterte has not explained why he replaced Abella with Roque, only saying it was his “personal decision.” The President said Roque would have a Cabinet rank of Secretary, higher than Abella’s.
In his first press briefing late Thursday in Malacañang, Roque said Abella would be a tough act to follow.
Roque said he may find it hard to be as calm as Abella, a former pastor and businessman, even as he praised his “good friend” and revealed that they belonged to the same Christian church.
“I think he did a brilliant job as spokesperson,” said Roque, a human rights lawyer who was Kabayan party-list’s representative, of Abella.
That’s why [Abella is] a very difficult act to follow. I have asked for his prayers and I will pray for him. But I’m sure there is something in store for (him),” he added.
Roque said he and the President would be an “explosive” tandem, saying he might not curse like the President but that he would “likely scream.”
He also promised to follow the President’s top order not to lie to the public.
“I realized that my working relationship with the media, having defended many of you for libel and having prosecuted cases involving members of the media, should help me in this new undertaking,” said Roque, who was named spokesman when Duterte visited him at his birthday party in Davao City.
“I assume this obligation cognizant of the importance of the free marketplace of ideas, and I assume this obligation recognizing that the people do have a right to information on matters that affect them,” he said.
